Background: Adolescent sex education is important from the viewpoint of health education. In addition, the sexual behavior of children is diverse, and various forms of sex education exist.
Objective: The objective of this study was to shed light on the meaning of the inner world of third-year junior high school students who attend sex education classes.
Methods: The sample comprised five third-year junior high school students who attended classes in the author’s sex education program. The data were derived from semi-structured interviews and were analyzed with reference to Giorgi’s phenomenological methodology.
Results: The following four points became clinically evident through our sex education program. First, the students became aware that they stand on the threshold connecting their own past events with their futures. Second, the students associated photographs of childbirth with their personal concerns. Third, the students re-evaluated their knowledge of sex and sexual experiences. Fourth, the students discussed their concerns about whether they would contract sexually transmitted infections (STI) ; however, they thought they would be the exception to the rule.
Conclusion: The students associated their learnings from our sex education program with their past events and present concerns in chronological order. Through the process of integrating new knowledge based on our sex education program, the students were aware of the relationship between the content of our program and their personal lives. Our sex education classes provide the students with self-affirmation and prepare them for their future. However, our program did not have an effect on guarding against STI. Further studies should be pursued to plan sex education programs that promote safe sexual behaviors.
